2 Corinthians 8:1-3 - "Now, brethren, we wish to make
known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of
Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and
their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify
that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their
own accord."
In this passage Paul is writing to the Corinthians about the churches of Macedonia and how generous they are. And it's interesting that their attitude and liberality did not depend on their circumstances. It says "that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality." Even though they were greatly afflicted and in deep poverty they had an abundance of joy and were very generous. Their affliction produced in them joy and as a result of the joy they gave "according to their ability, and beyond their ability." Now that's a miracle. How can anyone give more than they can give? It just doesn't make sense. But it is explained in the next chapter.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says - "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed."
When the churches of Macedonia gave they gave with joy, and here we're told that God loves a cheerful giver. And we're also told that just like God gave grace to the churches of Macedonia He is also able to make all grace abound to us as well in order that "you may have an abundance for every good deed."
God is able to give us an abundance for every good deed, but that doesn't give us an excuse to sit around and wait for it.
In Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 Solomon says this - "Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart."
In Solomons wisdom this is what he saw to be good. To work. To toil as he puts it, and enjoy the fruit of that labor. That's the wisdom of man under the sun, but I think he has a good point. We can take pleasure and rejoice in and enjoy our labor and our toil (or affliction) which God has given to us. And I believe that we will be able to enjoy the fruit of our labor all the more when we scatter it. When we give it to the Lords work.
With this mindset it is easier to do all our work as unto the Lord and not to men, and we know that as we sow, we shall also reap. He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Just like the churches of Macedonia we should take abundant joy in our afflictions and toil, and that joy will flow out of us in the form of generosity.
In this passage Paul is writing to the Corinthians about the churches of Macedonia and how generous they are. And it's interesting that their attitude and liberality did not depend on their circumstances. It says "that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality." Even though they were greatly afflicted and in deep poverty they had an abundance of joy and were very generous. Their affliction produced in them joy and as a result of the joy they gave "according to their ability, and beyond their ability." Now that's a miracle. How can anyone give more than they can give? It just doesn't make sense. But it is explained in the next chapter.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says - "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed."
When the churches of Macedonia gave they gave with joy, and here we're told that God loves a cheerful giver. And we're also told that just like God gave grace to the churches of Macedonia He is also able to make all grace abound to us as well in order that "you may have an abundance for every good deed."
God is able to give us an abundance for every good deed, but that doesn't give us an excuse to sit around and wait for it.
In Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 Solomon says this - "Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart."
In Solomons wisdom this is what he saw to be good. To work. To toil as he puts it, and enjoy the fruit of that labor. That's the wisdom of man under the sun, but I think he has a good point. We can take pleasure and rejoice in and enjoy our labor and our toil (or affliction) which God has given to us. And I believe that we will be able to enjoy the fruit of our labor all the more when we scatter it. When we give it to the Lords work.
With this mindset it is easier to do all our work as unto the Lord and not to men, and we know that as we sow, we shall also reap. He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Just like the churches of Macedonia we should take abundant joy in our afflictions and toil, and that joy will flow out of us in the form of generosity.
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